Safety Austin Collinsworth has bounced back well this August after sitting out the 2012 season because
of shoulder and back surgeries.
photo by bill panzica
Last August, Welch had worked
himself into the role of the in-line
blocking tight end to complement
Eifert, until tearing his ACL in an Aug.
8 practice. Although junior Troy Niklas
is rangier and junior Ben Koyack has
the hands and receiving skills to work
in the slot, tight ends coach Scott Booker
believes Welch's all-around talents
can make him a regular at a school
unsurpassed in tight end excellence
the past 40 years, from Pro and College
Football Hall of Famer Dave Casper in
1973 to Eifert the past few years.
"He has probably the best or close to
the best hands on the team — softest
hands," Booker said of Welch.
Finding Their Role
The role players in the senior class
are led by receiver Daniel Smith (four
starts last year) on offense and lineman
